Campanula plant named ‘Jelly Bells’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Campanula  plant distinguished by its large nodding bells of deep blue violet flowers and its vigor. Compared to its parent  Campanula×pulloides  ‘G. F. Wilson’, the new variety has larger flowers, larger leaves, larger plant size, and better vigor.

Botanical classification: Campanula×pulloides.

Variety denomination: ‘Jelly Bells’.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Campanula plant that is given the cultivar name of ‘Jelly Bells’. Campanula is in the family Campanulaceae. Campanula ‘Jelly Bells’ originated from a branch mutation of Campanula×pulloides ‘G. F. Wilson’ (an unpatented plant).

This new and unique Campanula is a mat forming plant distinguished by its large nodding bells of deep blue violet flowers and its vigor. Compared to its parent Campanula×pulloides ‘G. F. Wilson’, the new variety has larger flowers, larger leaves, larger plant size, and better vigor.

This new cultivar has been reproduced only by asexual propagation (tissue culture). Each of the progeny exhibits identical characteristics to the original plant. Asexual propagation by division and tissue culture using standard micropropagation techniques with terminal and lateral shoots, as done in Canby, Oreg., shows that the foregoing characteristics and distinctions come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The photograph shows Campanula ‘Jelly Bells’ growing in a one gallon container in a sunny greenhouse in June in Canby, Oreg.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new Campanula based on observations of two-year-old-specimens grown in the trial beds outside in full sun under typical weathers in Canby, Oreg. Canby is Zone 8 on the USDA Hardiness map. Temperatures range from a high of 95 degrees F in August to 32 degrees F in January. Normal rainfall in Canby is 42.8 inches per year. The color descriptions are all based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.

-   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Mat forming herbaceous perennial.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5–8.         -   Size.—16 cm tall from the ground to the top of the             inflorescence and 38 cm wide.         -   Habit.—Low spreading mat with short upright leafy stems.         -   Vigor.—Excellent.         -   Roots.—Main root Grey Brown 199A, side roots Yellow White             158A to 158C;

plants grow easily from divisions.

-   Stem:     -   -   Size.—Grows to 15 cm long and 2 mm wide.         -   Internode length.—Grows to 6 mm.         -   Surface texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Yellow Green 147B. -   Leaf:     -   -   Type.—Simple.         -   Number.—Usually 7 leaves per stem.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape.—Ovate, except upper stem leaves which are lanceolate.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Margins.—Coarsely serrate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Blade size.—Grows to 25 mm long and 15 mm wide.         -   Surface texture.—Pubescent on both sides.         -   Petiole description.—10 mm to 15 mm long and 1.5 mm wide,             pubescent, Yellow Green 146D.         -   Leaf color.—Topside Green 137A, bottom side Yellow Green             147B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Terminal, solitary to 4-branched.         -   Peduncle.—1 cm to 10 cm tall and 1.2 mm wide, pubescent,             Yellow Green 146B.         -   Pedicel.—4 cm to 8.5 cm long and 1 mm wide, pubescent,             Yellow Green 146B.         -   Bloom period.—May through July with sporatic rebloom in             Canby, Oreg. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Size.—6.5 mm wide and 12 mm long.         -   Shape.—Ovoid, elongate, pleated.         -   Surface texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—Closest to Violet 90A, but darker. -   Flower:     -   -   Type.—Actinomorphic.         -   Shape.—Campanulate.         -   Size.—Grows to 2 cm long and 1.5 cm wide.         -   Corolla.—1.5 to 2 cm long; with 5 lobes, each 5 mm to 8 mm             long and 8 mm wide, triangular, surface texture glabrous             inside and out, color outside is Violet Blue 90A with             lighter main vein and base White 155A, inside is Violet Blue             90C to 90A at the tips and 85D at the tips.         -   Calyx.—15 mm wide and 8 mm deep, campanulate with long thin             flaring lobes, tube 5 mm long and 4 mm wide at lobe             junction, lobes are 9 mm long, 2.5 mm wide at the base,             entire, acuminate, pubescent outside tube, lobes glabrous,             Yellow Green 146A.         -   Stamen.—5, 5 mm long, filaments 1.5 mm long, White 155A,             anthers 3.5 mm long and less than 1 mm wide, Yellow White             158A, sterile.         -   Pistil.—1, 15 mm long and 3 mm wide; ovary 4 mm deep and 3             cm wide, Yellow White 145A; style 9.5 cm long and 1 mm wide,             White 155A on bottom 2/3 and Greyed Yellow 160B on top 1/3;             3-branched stigma, each reflexed branch 3 mm long and 1 mm             wide, Yellow Green 154D.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Lastingness.—each flower lasts for about 5 days on the             plant. -   Fruit and seed: none. -   Diseases and pests: No diseases found of this new variety. No known     disease resistance. Many Campanula sp. are susceptible to snails,     slugs, and aphids. 

1. A new and distinct Campanula plant as herein illustrated and described. 